SEASIDE, Calif. – The two very familiar California Collegiate Athletic Association foes played another nailbiter, this time with San Francisco State coming out on top, 3-2, on day two of the NCAA West Regional at the Otters Sports Complex.
 
The loss moves CSUMB to 36-19 overall while SFSU improves to 34-24. The two teams will meet on Championship Saturday as the Otters now need to win twice to advance to the Super Regional round.
 
This marked the eighth meeting of the season for the two league opponents and the fifth one-run game.
 
The Gators, who were the designated home team, scored first in the third inning, but once again the Otters had an answer.

Nico Hartojo tallied another RBI against San Francisco State, this time on a fielder's choice that plated JJ Engman.
 
The Gators would tack on one more in the sixth and what proved to be the winning run in the eighth off the bat of Daniel Murillo, who drove in two of the three SFSU runs on the day.
 
The Otters started a rally in the eighth, pulling within one and had the tying run at second before Nathan Shinn earned the one-out save.
 
Garrett Santos, who has come up clutch with timely pinch hits late in games, did so again as he drove a liner into the gap in right-center to plate Cole Murchison.
 
SFSU pitcher David Eichhorn nearly went the distance as the game proved to be a pitcher's duel. He allowed the two runs on nine hits and struck out two in 8 2/3 innings.
 
For the Otters, Mitchell Torres allowed two runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings. Christian McInerney got CSUMB out of a bases loaded jam to keep the game tied in the sixth.
 
The Otters out-hit the Gators 9-7 as Engman, Murchison, Jaden Sheppard and Kyle Barileau collected two hits apiece.
 
The two teams will meet tomorrow at Noon with a chance to advance to the Super Regional on the line.